As the ground begins to thaw, and we start venturing out of the house with a few less layers, I become giddy with thoughts of spring. As a pastor in a local church, I notice that our attention moves to our tables. As Christians, our tables have always been in the center of our worship together. Every month, we celebrate communion, a meal where we take the common food of our daily lives -- the bread and wine -- and remember how the simple act of eating together can become sacred.
Inviting people to tables, this simple act of hospitality, is important in our D.C. congregation, especially when we remember that the communion table is connected to the tables in our courtyard room, where we laugh and eat together. It is connected to the tables in our homes, where families of every size and configuration build their lives. It is connected to our tables in Miriam's Kitchen, where we welcome our homeless guests in from the cold, so they can receive a hot, healthy meal. This simple table is central to our worship, and it has become vital for our work in our community.
When we look closely at what we put on our tables, it can become frustrating. A head of lettuce takes a journey of a thousand miles before it lands on our plates. The petroleum that we use in shipping and fertilizer is hard on our environment. Local farmers, who rotate and diversify their crops, using methods that are better for our soil, often cannot compete with the low prices of food that is shipped from an agribusiness headquarters.
When we look at all of these issues, we know that food is an act of faith. So what can our congregations do in response?
Start a Farmers Market. Often our congregations are in a perfect place to start a farmers market, so that we can support local growers. Many of our church buildings come with parking lots, lawns and storage areas. All of that can be put to good use for farmers who want to sell their produce to local communities.
Glean for a local soup kitchen. Each Wednesday, when the farmers markets hours are over, members of our church go "gleaning." They aren't in fields, picking up fruits and vegetables as traditional gleaning is done, but they are next to the Foggy Bottom Metro, stopping by each booth, asking the farmers if they have any food that will not be able to sell at the next market. Miriam's Kitchen has saved thousands of dollars on produce because of the generosity of local farmers. Of course, there are many farmers who will let you do some traditional gleaning as well. If you contact the growers in your area, you can schedule a time to gather produce for those who may not otherwise be able to enjoy fruits and vegetables.
Encourage farmers market nutrition programs. Income may not affect diets in the way that we think. Often children who grow up below the poverty level will struggle with obesity or diabetes. That's because a parent who is trying to feed a family with limited income and time might reach for more inexpensive, calorie dense food. Likewise, seniors who struggle on limited incomes may not get the nutrition that they need. They might avoid the outer edges of the grocery store, where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold. The organic food feels completely out of reach. In response to some of these issues, the USDA sponsors a nutrition program for low-income seniors, women, infants and children. They can use coupons at farmers markets to buy fresh, local fruits and vegetables.
Begin a community garden. Since we're in the city, we don't have any soil to start a community garden -- but that hasn't stopped some congregations. I have heard of urban churches that have planted rooftop gardens. All over the country, congregations are beginning to dig up their pristine laws so that their community can attempt to grow the perfect tomato. Community gardens are not only a source of fresh produce for the neighborhood, but they can also be learning tools for children. As kids cultivate the dirt, we can remind them of how important it is to care for the earth. As they plant seeds and watch that miraculous process of growth, they can begin to have a clearer understanding of where our food originates.
Food is at the heart of our practice together. So it's important to remember that what we put on our tables can be an act of faith.
Follow Carol Howard Merritt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CarolHoward
Jerusha Klemperer: 7 Things I Learned About Food in 2010
Buy Local, local food is sustainable - The Issues - Sustainable Table
Distributors Slow To Embrace Local Food Movement : NPR
Entrepreneurs Keep the Local Food Movement Hot - BusinessWeek
Local Food Movement Gives Small Farms a Big Boost - DailyFinance
Thanks for raising up this important issue. Our church in Spokane has held a farmers' market for the last four years, along with doing a food distribution and starting a community garden. I've got a book coming out March 1 that explores the intersections of the local food movement and faith. It's titled Year of Plenty. http://www.yearofplenty.org/year-of-plenty-the-book.html/
Grace and Peace from a fellow Presby pastor.
Another idea for churches: Years ago I was a part of an urban vacant lot garden ministry, which not only beautified the inner city neighborhood, but also gave the kids in the area something to do and learn about, and gave their families something fresh (and free) to eat. We built lots of relationships as we planted, watered and weeded.
Check out the website below and look at the info on the "Living Gift Market". I recently participated in one at my church. It raised awareness of the world's hungry and we ended upt raising quite a bit of money in a unique and fun way that will make a difference in the lives of those who will receive the animals.
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/?msource=kwga1&gclid=CLeP8LCQmqcCFUmo4AodVVpPeg
What so many don't understand is that the food we get from agribusiness wouldn't be so cheap if it weren't for the government subsidies. So I find it interesting that at least one commenter supports 'social programs' that provide help to corporations but not those that help individuals. It's so difficult for those great big corporations to survive that our tax dollars are required to help them out . . . ah the irony!
If you do not have a copy of the book "stations of the banquet" I would recommend it! It is full of great prayer and responsive reading resources as well as thoughts on the table as a central component of Christianity and worship.
Signed,
Just one of THOUSANDS of Christians who read The Huffington Post
:-)
The church is a place where people are supposed to put the needs of others before their own, especially those of the 'poor, widow, orphan and stranger', essentially those who are outside of the power structures and have more difficulty helping themselves. Yes, this does not always happen, but if we are upset about what the church is doing or not doing, we often forget that if we are members, we are part of the whole and we often need to stop complaining about others' action or inaction and look to our own.
NickHP - I don't believe that Carol is suggesting we don't try to improve our non-religious social programs to care for the poor, rather that it is a central mission of the church to do so, and these are some ways we can do that. Also, rather than being 'hit-or-miss', ministries such as Miriam's Kitchen are providing multiple (healthy, local, organic and delicious) meals every day.
ninetailedfox - Once again, Carol wasn't saying non-Christians do not and cannot give to charity, rather that it is something central to Jesus' message for us and these are some simple and thoughtful ways to care for others, our own health and support our farmer neighbors.
Also, I am too concerned over how we treat the environment and other behaviors in the church, however I can't address them if I am not there, and looking at my own complicity.
That might explain why the water is poisoned, as well as the earth.
Christians are taught they are the salt of the earth, but did they ever think about what that entails?
Regular sea or table salt destroys crops (im not talking about epson salt which was unheard of until recently anyways)
I felt better after leaving christianity, and I will say that for me, it was a negative experience being a christian, but I have no regrets about leaving other than why didnt I do it sooner?
But then why are there other systematic flaws in our social safety net? Like lack of guaranteed medical care for everybody?